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Solid state amplifiers and sound stage, especially front to back "depth"

I've been enjoying my trial period with the Van Alstine SET 400 stereo amplifier. When I'm done and have collected my thoughts, I may write up a summary.

In the meantime, a question for folks with more experience. I've noticed is that the amp produces a sound stage that is nicely defined and articulate from left to right, but not as much from front to back. (My Adcom was also unable to create sound stage depth.) I know my room is capable of that sound stage because my tube amp accomplishes it.

Question: Is it typical of solid state amps to have less of a front to back sound stage than tube amps? Do they vary in this regard? Or, perhaps, am I failing to do something -- such as re-position my speakers? (After all, I immediately get that sound stage back when I switch amplifier without moving anything else.)

If you have any experience with solid state amplifiers and sound stage -- front to back, left to right, or whatever, I'm curious.

This is not about me keeping or not keeping the amp. There are many things I already really like about it. But I'm wondering about this aspect.

Thanks.
128x128hilde45

Showing 8 responses by niodari

niodari's avatar
niodari
298 posts
 
I think that here are two different issues.  First is the body and the depth of each instrument,  how individual instruments sound. Here I think besides the recording quality, amplifying equipment is definitive. On the other hand, whenever positioning of each musician is regarded, in width  or  depth, I guess  the type and quality of a particular recording is important. Perhaps, recording with a single microphone would be more beneficial. But most jazz recordings are not made this way, mostly classical music I guess.
niodari's avatar
niodari
298 posts
 
@hilde...I would say that tube amps give an "echo-like" sound stage (perhaps because of harmonics of different levels), and good SS amps give more realistic sound stage. I use both, tube and SS class D gear, and I cannot assure which I like more. Class D for me is more real and natural and tubes are very pleasing, i like both, different things in each (as one may like different aspects in different women). 
Roughly, a less realistic reproduction may sound more pleasing, like impressionist paintings may better reflect your inner feelings than realistic ones. It is subjective. But I think that objectivity, class D SS amps give most realistic, natural and clean sound (stage).
niodari's avatar
niodari
298 posts
 
@hilde..I didn't mean a real echoes of course but something similar compared to the SS reproduction that i have in my another system with Cherry Megaschino Class d amp and Wired4Sound STP 2 pre. STP does make the already good sound stage of the Mega wider - somewhat comparable to tubes but more real and natural. Again, i personally enjoy very much tube reproduction, but at the same time,  I consider the sound stage, in particular, somewhat "artificially exaggerated" (but pleasing) after comparing it with the other system. 
niodari's avatar
niodari
298 posts
 
@mahgister i do not normally go to live performances as at home i have better  SQ, in average. But if you are at q live unplugged performance, where you expect the sound will come from other than from the scene? 
niodari's avatar
niodari
298 posts
 
Hey @ghasley.. I would not ask such a question to Dalai Lama - i know there exists no verbal answer on it (i do hatha yoga can reach physically all asanas  -  this not necessarily " enlightens" you; in general,  the meaning of "enlightened" is quite vague and speculative). 
And which question do you mean (or did you mean 
" ... asking the Dalai Lama what is his profession")? 
By the way, if you still ask to  Dalai Lama the question you stated, i guess he would just reply that each person decides what  "enlightened" means for him. 
niodari's avatar
niodari
298 posts
 
@atmasphere 
I trust your perception - are you a musician or a sound engineer? 
These things are subjective. There is more air with tube reproduction
that makes it very pleasing but not necessarily plausible. I mean, the
real sound is a bit different. What I hear in my SS class D gear - I consider it more real. It depends on you whether you prefer pleasing or plausible. I like both.  
niodari's avatar
niodari
298 posts
 
Thanks @ghasley  for letting me know about the business of @atmasphere - sincerely i didn't have that info and don't see from where i could have it. Hence, the question  required an answer (for me i mean). And thanks @atmasphere  for your kind response (by the way, which instrument you play - i used to play and like the most base). Now I understand your motivation and again, i am not at all against tube amplification. In fact, i spent > 20 years mostly auditioning a tube amplifier. But, the most of the things are relative and i found it really useful to compare tube amplification with SS. I tried a McIntosh SS class A/B amp. My first impression was that it was delivering a cleaner sound, but other things were not as good as in my tube amp. Now I think that i reached some equilibrium/satisfaction with the current class D in my main system. I could also like your tube amps but am unable to carry out the necessary study (even don't know which amps you produce): I still enjoy analysis of different sound reproductions and comparisons  between them (far below your authoritative level).  

niodari's avatar
niodari
298 posts
 
Thanks @lowrider.. for letting me know the credits of @atmasphere . I had a quick look at the site, it made a solid and convincing impression on me. I wish him all the best in his art of design perfect tube amplification.
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